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TBA's latest newsletter

Now available online, the 2010 TBA newsletter packs in a large selection of fascinating articles on topics ranging from the recent TBA field courses, to what people are doing now, fifteen years after their course. It includes news from the TBA alumni groups which continue to proliferate across Africa. Many of TBA's 1,229 alumni now have major roles in conservation in their home countries, and the newsletter includes interviews with two such individuals. We hope you enjoy reading about TBA's activities and news of our alumni.

Simon Musila graduates

Simon Musila has just graduated from Kenyatta University with a Masters degree. What makes his degree unusual is that it was sponsored by the participants on his TBA course in Amani in 2003 who wanted to enable one of their fellow African participants to do a Masters after his TBA course. Called the African Education for Leaders in Conservation (AELC) Masters scholarship, and launched by fellow course participant Nick van de Wiel, this is a great example of how the TBA network continues to function well after the courses have finished.

Simon is now working as Assistant Research Scientist in Mammalogy at the National Museums of Kenya. TBA wishes him the best for his current and future work.

Simon Musila at his graduation ceremony on 2nd July 2010

TBA at Student Conference on Conservation Science

TBA alumni of many nationalities came to Cambridge for the 11th Student Conference on Conservation Science (23rd-25th March 2010). Going back as far as 2003, course alumni found time to meet up with old friends and make new friends. Four of them gave talks, including the third prize winner, while two others were awarded internships and bursaries. The 12th Conference will take place on 22-24 March 2011, in the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge. Full details and application forms will appear on the SCCS website.

Unlocking the potential of African Scientists

28th January, Nairobi

The Tropical Biology Association recently met with representatives from the University of Ghana, Makerere University (Uganda), the National Museums of Kenya, Nature Kenya and the Nigeria Conservation Foundation to launch an exciting new project that will develop the research capacity of African environmental scientists. Funded by the ACP Science and Technology Programme, the 3-year project will significantly boost the output of research and publications of scientists in the region, while increasing their profile internationally. This will be achieved through a series of collaborative workshops coupled with follow-up support that will build skills in:

Designing quality research projects and preparing successful funding proposals.
Writing papers for publication in journals and other media where results can be easily accessed by the wider conservation community.
How to communicate with policy makers.

Society of Conservation Biology 2005 Distinguished Service Award

The TBA is a recipient of the Society for Conservation Biology Distinguished Service Award for 2005. This was awarded in recognition for TBA's contribution to the conservation of tropical biodiversity through unique and innovation capacity building and fostering of expertise and support for young conservation biologists. With a membership of 6,000 in 90 countries, and the prestigious journal Conservation Biology, the SCB is regarded as the premier professional society for those seeking to conserve biological diversity. The award was given at the 19th annual meeting of the SCB, held in Brasilia on the 15-19th July 2005.

Annual TBA newsletters

Each year TBA produces a newsletter by our alumni for our alumni providing individual updates; news about TBA itself; and its latest activities; and most importantly articles written by past participants about their TBA course. Below are some previous newsletters that were produced.

Tropical Biology Association

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